February Health Genie: Combating Dry Skin

Note: These articles are not meant as a substitute for proper medical advice. Please consult with your medical practitioner before using any type of remedy, herbal or otherwise.

Dear Health Genie,

It’s mid-winter, it’s cold, and my skin is taking a beating!  What can I do to help it through until spring?

Thanks,
Tracy L.

Dear Tracy,

Are you experiencing thirsty skin this winter? Do you have cracked hands and fingertips, red flaky skin or dandruff? Here at City Market, we have numerous customers experiencing the harshness of Vermont’s winter.  Some seem desperate for a solution.  Here are some ideas to help keep your skin hydrated from the inside and out!

Drink water- This cannot be stressed enough.  The state of your skin is a reflection of what is going on inside.  If you are not drinking enough water it will show up in numerous ways.  Most common signs of the early stages of dehydration are dry lips, itchy skin, and dark urine.  If your lips are chapped, instead of immediately reaching for chapstick, drink a tall glass of water.  And if you decide to use chapstick, be cautious of chapsticks that use alcohol for it will further dry out any membrane - including your lips!

Use oil in place of or in addition to lotion: While lotions have therapeutic value, they are often loaded with alcohol, synthetic preservatives, and emulsifiers.  These will dehydrate your skin even more and can cause skin irritation. Oils, on the other hand, usually do not contain any added preservatives or emulsifiers and can be easily recognized by the skin’s epidermis.  The skin’s membrane is made up of lipids, or fat soluble compounds, that help protect your skin from the environment while also regulating water evaporation.  Oils, by nature, are lipid molecules that have a natural affinity for our skin membrane. Adding oil to the skin therefore helps to strengthen the skin’s natural membrane lining and in turn retain more moisture.  The strength of the lipid skin barrier not only protects us from the harsh wind and cold weather of the environment, but it also forms a physical barrier to pathogens.  Common body care oils include jojoba (which best matches the natural oils produced by the skin), almond oil, coconut oil, and avocado oil.

Eat more fish or take fish oil: Fish oil contains essential fatty acids that are crucial to staying hydrated and are important in building and maintaining healthy cell membranes (mentioned above).  The Omega-3’s in fish oil also have anti-inflammatory properties that may help calm irritated skin.  Look for fish oil products that are made from smaller fish like anchovies or sardines as these small fish are less likely to contain toxic minerals and chemicals found in our oceans and in bigger fish.  Another great option is Wild Alaskan Salmon (both as a fillet and in a capsule).

Avoid temperature extremes: It is hard for the skin to adjust to extreme variations in temperature.  For instance, soaking in a hot tub and then rolling in the snow can be very harsh on the skin.  Likewise, taking steaming hot showers in the winter can irritate and rapidly dry out the skin and can eventually lead to red, flaky, eczema like patches.  Try instead to take warm showers, keep your house at a moderate temperature, and cover your skin appropriately (hats, mittens, scarfs) when outdoors.

Scalp treatment: During the winter, it is quite common to get an itchy dry scalp that is prone to dandruff.  Often our hair needs to be washed less in the winter than in the summer.  Over-washing the hair can strip the scalp of naturally occurring oils that protect the scalp during the harsh conditions of winter.  A great way to counteract a dry, itchy, flaking scalp is to do an intensive hydrating treatment by applying argan oil or coconut oil. This works best if you part your hair and apply the oil directly and liberally at the root of the hair follicles.  Rub into the entire scalp, cover with a hat, let sit overnight, and rinse with shampoo in the morning.  

Hand and feet packs: A similar intensive overnight treatment can be great for dry cracked hands and feet.  Typically, a viscous oil like avocado or coconut oil is applied to the hands, covered with plastic (even a plastic bag will do) and put into thick gloves (or an oven mitt) or wool socks.  Leave in for 2-3 hours or overnight and repeat as often as needed. 

With these internal and topical treatments, winter no longer has to be a time of dry, itchy, uncomfortable skin.  Drinking water regularly and properly covering the skin when outdoors is a good start in preventing dry skin.  Fish oil and topical oil treatments are great for intense hydration and a quick recovery.  I hope these tips bring you some relief and help create a better, more comfortable last few months of winter.

In Health,
The Health Genie